Last Modified: Monday, April 28, 2014 at 12:47 p.m.

The third incident happened Sunday about 6:35 p.m. on the 800 block of Brunnell Parkway, only a few blocks from where Saturday's shootings occurred, Lakeland police Sgt. Gary Gross said.

Mark Rhodes, 16, who lives in the Chestnut Hills area of Lakeland, was walking south on Brunnell Parkway when a small silver sedan with several people inside drove past him, police said.

Rhodes told police he saw a black pistol pointing out of one of the windows and someone started firing it toward him. The teen ran and hid behind a family member's house, which was nearby.

Rhodes was driven by family members to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for a single gunshot wound to his chest, Gross said. Police did not immediately have an update on his condition, but Gross said the gunshot did not hit any of Rhodes' vital organs.

Police confirmed Monday that the two shootings on Saturday were gang-related.

Bayshawn Kelly, the victim of a Saturday evening shooting, is a documented gang member, Gross said.

Posts on Facebook show the three teens shared mutual friends, and at least two of the boys may have attended Kathleen High School together, but detectives would not say whether the third shooting was gang-related.

TWO SHOOTINGS

In the first shooting, Dayquon Raheem Longs, 15, was with Kelly and two others in a vehicle driving south on Brunnell Parkway near George Jenkins Boulevard about 3 p.m. Saturday, when another vehicle passed and multiple shots were fired at their vehicle, police said.

Longs was hit in the arm, police said. He was driven to Lakeland Regional and has since been released, Gross said.

Less than four hours later, Kelly was standing at the intersection of Second Street and Jewel Avenue when he was shot in the back and arm, police said. He was flown to a Tampa hospital and originally was listed in critical condition. Gross said Monday that Kelly had been released from the hospital.

The intersection of Second Street and Jewel Avenue is no stranger to gunshots.

Since last July, Lakeland police have investigated more than a half-dozen shootings within a mile of the intersection — many of which were gang-related and involved teenagers.

The shootings on Saturday occurred only hours after a group of community members held a peaceful demonstration about the city's growing violence problem.

'STOP THE VIOLENCE'

Earvin Tucker organized the demonstration Saturday afternoon at the corner of West 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to spread a simple message: Stop the violence.

Tucker, along with about 30 friends and family members, held signs and waved to people for about two hours, trying to reach anyone who would listen to their message.

"I'm trying to paint a picture for the community and demonstrate that there are people out here that care," he said. "I'm trying to do the right thing for the people of Lakeland."

He said it was a tragic coincidence that two shootings occurred the same day as his event, but it's a reminder that the community needs to spread more peace.

Since the incidents, Lakeland police have increased patrols near Second Street and Jewel Avenue, and throughout the nearby neighborhoods, Gross said. He said the LPD wants the officers' presence to be known in that area and for people to understand that the city won't tolerate violence.

"We pretty much have officers between calls up there driving around," he said.

Gross said detectives are following leads, and asks that anyone with information call the Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6900 or Crime Stoppers at 800-226-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.

[ Stephanie Allen can be reached at stephanie.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. ]

<p>LAKELAND | Police are investigating a third drive-by shooting that occurred a day after two 15-year-olds were shot in separate but similar gang-related incidents, police officials said Monday.</p><p>The third incident happened Sunday about 6:35 p.m. on the 800 block of Brunnell Parkway, only a few blocks from where Saturday's shootings occurred, Lakeland police Sgt. Gary Gross said.</p><p>Mark Rhodes, 16, who lives in the Chestnut Hills area of Lakeland, was walking south on Brunnell Parkway when a small silver sedan with several people inside drove past him, police said.</p><p>Rhodes told police he saw a black pistol pointing out of one of the windows and someone started firing it toward him. The teen ran and hid behind a family member's house, which was nearby. </p><p>Rhodes was driven by family members to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he was treated for a single gunshot wound to his chest, Gross said. Police did not immediately have an update on his condition, but Gross said the gunshot did not hit any of Rhodes' vital organs.</p><p>Police confirmed Monday that the two shootings on Saturday were gang-related. </p><p>Bayshawn Kelly, the victim of a Saturday evening shooting, is a documented gang member, Gross said. </p><p>Posts on Facebook show the three teens shared mutual friends, and at least two of the boys may have attended Kathleen High School together, but detectives would not say whether the third shooting was gang-related. </p><p>TWO SHOOTINGS </p><p>In the first shooting, Dayquon Raheem Longs, 15, was with Kelly and two others in a vehicle driving south on Brunnell Parkway near George Jenkins Boulevard about 3 p.m. Saturday, when another vehicle passed and multiple shots were fired at their vehicle, police said. </p><p>Longs was hit in the arm, police said. He was driven to Lakeland Regional and has since been released, Gross said.</p><p>Less than four hours later, Kelly was standing at the intersection of Second Street and Jewel Avenue when he was shot in the back and arm, police said. He was flown to a Tampa hospital and originally was listed in critical condition. Gross said Monday that Kelly had been released from the hospital.</p><p>The intersection of Second Street and Jewel Avenue is no stranger to gunshots.</p><p>Since last July, Lakeland police have investigated more than a half-dozen shootings within a mile of the intersection — many of which were gang-related and involved teenagers.</p><p>The shootings on Saturday occurred only hours after a group of community members held a peaceful demonstration about the city's growing violence problem. </p><p>'STOP THE VIOLENCE'</p><p>Earvin Tucker organized the demonstration Saturday afternoon at the corner of West 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to spread a simple message: Stop the violence.</p><p>Tucker, along with about 30 friends and family members, held signs and waved to people for about two hours, trying to reach anyone who would listen to their message.</p><p>"I'm trying to paint a picture for the community and demonstrate that there are people out here that care," he said. "I'm trying to do the right thing for the people of Lakeland." </p><p>He said it was a tragic coincidence that two shootings occurred the same day as his event, but it's a reminder that the community needs to spread more peace.</p><p>Since the incidents, Lakeland police have increased patrols near Second Street and Jewel Avenue, and throughout the nearby neighborhoods, Gross said. He said the LPD wants the officers' presence to be known in that area and for people to understand that the city won't tolerate violence.</p><p>"We pretty much have officers between calls up there driving around," he said.</p><p>Gross said detectives are following leads, and asks that anyone with information call the Lakeland Police Department at 863-834-6900 or Crime Stoppers at 800-226-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.</p><p>[ Stephanie Allen can be reached at stephanie.allen@theledger.com or 863-802-7550. ]</p>